MEET HEATHER

Before her ovarian cancer diagnosis, Heather’s life was busy and full. She and her husband ran a film and video production company. He worked as a producer, and Heather managed the accounts and helped with production. They were raising two children—a 14-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son.

“Life revolved around school, work, and taking the kids to nippers (junior surf lifesaving) on the weekend,” Heather says. “I wasn’t exercising much back then—just short shallow swims at the beach and family walks.”

About eight weeks before her diagnosis in 2007, Heather noticed several changes in her body.

“My abdomen started swelling a little,” she says. “And at the time I thought it was 'middle-age spread’ or the beginning of menopause. I was 41.”

She also had heavier periods and felt tired most of the time.

“I simply put it down to being a busy mum, and made a mental note to take a closer look at my diet, my sleep and address my lack of exercise” she says.

But as the swelling continued, and her clothes became tighter, one Sunday morning she noticed something she couldn’t ignore.

“I caught myself in the mirror and I looked pregnant,” she says.

With her nursing background, Heather examined her abdomen and found the lower right side was unusually firm to touch, and it felt uncomfortable. She says. “I will never forget that moment… A wash of anxiety rose up within. I knew it shouldn’t feel that way, this was not ‘my normal’.”

Heather called her family GP and was seen the next morning.

“He asked questions, listened as I explained my symptoms, examined me and then sent me straight for a CT scan,” she says.

During the scan, she sensed something was wrong.

“The radiologist’s voice became quieter, far more subdued.” Heather recalls.

Her concerns were realised. The scans showed a complex ovarian tumour measuring about 7cm. It would change the course of Heather’s life.

"I went from being a normal mum in the morning to being diagnosed with a large ovarian tumour that afternoon.”

On receiving the results Heather said “I was numb. Time felt like it was standing still yet my head and heart were racing. I kept thinking, ‘What will happen now? Will I even survive this? How do I tell my kids and my aging parents?’"

Heather was referred to a gynaecologist, one that she already knew - it was the doctor who’d delivered her daughter years earlier.

“Knowing him, and being aware of his professionalism and care, I felt a great deal of comfort and reassurance with what I was facing this time.” she says.

An ultrasound a few days later revealed the tumour had grown rapidly to 18cm.

“It was a fast growing immature teratoma, comprising of benign and cancerous tissue and fluid, and at this point in time, still contained within the thick walls of a cyst.”

Things moved quickly from here. Two days later, Heather underwent surgery, as there was the very real risk the cyst could rupture. She says. “I honestly believe it saved my life.”

Surgery was extensive, involving the removal of her ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, part of her omentum, and a sample of peritoneal fluid was taken. Thankfully, pathology results showed the cancer cells had been contained within the cyst wall.

“This meant my ovarian cancer was still considered Stage 1,” she says. “I have never cried with so much relief before in my life…”

In the following days, as Heather recovered, she met with oncologists to discuss follow up treatment.

She was offered an opportunity to take part in a brand new surveillance program, developed recently by collaborative international research.

She fitted the criteria being a Stage 1 ovarian cancer survivor. So instead of commencing chemotherapy straight away, she would be monitored closely by her oncologist - and with a back up plan of having chemotherapy if any cancer showed up.

“It involved regular blood tests, scans and physical examinations over a period of five years.” Heather says. “And it made sense - surgery had been successful and my pathology results had been good. I also felt a strong desire, that if I could play a small part in helping to expand treatment options for other women in the future, then it would be a worthwhile thing.”

Now 19 years later, Heather continues to have annual check ups and blood tests and so far remains cancer free.

Life following a cancer diagnosis feels very different.

“It really shifts your compass, changes your perspective, reminds you of how your life can change in a single day and how precious it is.” Heather says. “It truly motivated me to make the most of what I call my ‘second chance’.”

Acting on advice from her oncologist to become a little more active for her emotional and physical wellbeing, Heather set out to become fitter.

She increased her walking and swimming.

Two years after her diagnosis, she trained to become a Surf Lifesaver,” which she says. “Wasn’t easy at all, as I was pushed beyond my comfort zone, but I grew stronger, learned to trust my body again, gained confidence and developed new skills enabling me to give back to my local community as a volunteer.”

In 2012, she signed up for a 4km family fun run. A distance she’d never run before.

“The only running gear in my wardrobe was an old pair of gardening shorts, a faded stripy t-shirt and clunky runners,” Heather laughs. “My first training session was far from perfect. It was a 3.6km lap of the local park with my kids, which I struggled with. But I told myself, as I stood red faced and exhausted at a water bubbler ‘I’m committed to this, I can finish this.’”

And she did.

When event day came, she ran the entire way with her two children at her side, and as they crossed the finish line together, and raised their arms and cheered, she knew in her heart, it was just the beginning of a brand new journey in life.

She had discovered an unexpected love for long distance running.

Since that day, Heather has taken her running to a whole new level -  along with trekking and climbing mountains. For the past fourteen years, her challenges have taken her to every continent, in variable weather conditions and up to altitude…

From running marathons at the geographical North Pole and Antarctica, to competing in a 250km ultra marathon in the Sahara Desert, and running 520km in outback Australia, to trekking the entire length of Nepal, and reaching the summits of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and Aconcagua in the Andes mountain range.

As she says. “I simply love planning and going on adventures… and sharing these experiences with family and friends and in doing so, creating opportunities to raise awareness and funds for cancer research to help save lives.

This brings me so much purpose and fulfilment and creates a way in which I can give back…”

It also means so much personally for Heather to be involved in patient advocacy work - especially volunteering with the Survivors Teaching Students program.

Plus, coming up soon, she’s really looking forward to running with the WomenCan Run4Research team in the HOKA Half Marathon.